Australian Cadet .310 reloading

[smle-man]

For anyone who has one of the Cadet rifles in the original chambering of .310 (which is apparently actually a .323 bore), I am having great success using .32 SW long cartridges in mine.

I'm assuming the reason for the success is that the lead bullet is so soft that it expands to grip the rifling.

I've been reloading using Hornady swaged .314 SWC 90 bullets and 2.5 gr of Unique. That give about 800 FPS about 5 feet from the muzzle and shoots cloverleaf groups at 50 yards.

Today I tried the same bullet but seated further out in the case to get closer to the throat and both 3.0 and 3.5 gr of Unique. Recoil was slightly greater which isn't saying much since a 2 year old could handle the recoil from this cartridge but accuracy was slight less. My assumption is that the higher powder charge and corresponding higher velocity is not letting the bullet upset to the rifling as well. The bullet seating depth could also be a cause. The heavier powder charge gave the bullets more oomph when shooting to the 100 yard steel plate.

The cases bulge a bit with the 2.5 gr charge but not with the heavier charge for some reason.

shooting the 'wrong' ammunition in a firearm is not a suggested practice and I take no responsibility for anyone doing this in their Cadet but it works great for me. The .32 long is very cheap to reload for and very accurate in my Cadet. It is a fun hour shooting at 50 and 100 yards and as a small game cartridge I imagine it will anchor whatever you hit.

[TRAP55]

Pricey brass

https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/1128

[smle-man]

Pricey brass
https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog...productId/1128

Yes, that's why I use .32 SW long cases and bullets.

[joefrank64k]

I think I've got one of those Cadets around here somewhere...thanks for the tip, SMLE!!

[Mike Armstrong]

You can trim .32-20 cases to get more capacity. I SUSPECT (but have not tried) using .327 cases would get you there as well.

Then you might try "squishing" the .314 bullets gently in a vise to bump them up a few thousandths. That might let you use a harder bullet and give it some more velocity.

Or, you could just keep on doing what you're doing, since it seems to work for you!

[6mmintl]

Ive been reloading for the cadet but use a unusual method, bores are .321" to .323"

I shorten 32-20 cases to 1.460" and run a .323 expander and reload 125 speer SP.

You can also load .323 lead 170-180 grain behind 7.2 of H4227.

I have the one box left over from when I had mine, if yo contact me yo are welcome to have them.

[THBailey]

I'm interested. PM sent.

[gun toting monkeyboy]

I have one that was converted to .32-20 long ago. Unfortunately, I have to load it with larger bullets than you typically find on .32-20 if you want any kind of accuracy. Basically all that they appear to have done is ream the chamber out to accept .32-20 cases.

-Mb

[smle-man]

I have one that was converted to .32-20 long ago. Unfortunately, I have to load it with larger bullets than you typically find on .32-20 if you want any kind of accuracy. Basically all that they appear to have done is ream the chamber out to accept .32-20 cases.

-Mb

Seems to have been popular at one time. I think the .32-20 drives the hard lead undersized bullets too fast to grip the rifling. I had one once like you describe that keyholed. Perhaps soft swaged bullets at a lower velocity would work?

[6mmintl]

I have one that was converted to .32-20 long ago. Unfortunately, I have to load it with larger bullets than you typically find on .32-20 if you want any kind of accuracy. Basically all that they appear to have done is ream the chamber out to accept .32-20 cases.

-Mb

All the rebore did was allow thick 32-20 rims to close with bolt/extractor.

Shorten case to 1.200" give or take .050" (depends on chamber size). I shorten and size (323) expander and slip into chamber by hand to see if any drag if none trim case longer (use as gage)

Run a .323 expander ball down to base and load .323 cast lead bullets 150-170 grain. 6.5 (170) to 7.5 (150) grains of 4227.

Amazing accuracy out to 200 yaRDS.

[smle-man]

I took the Cadet out today with 3.5gr Unique and the 90 grain Hornaday swaged .314 bullet in a .32 long case. I set the chronograph about 6 ft from the muzzle to avoid false readings from the muzzle blast getting to the chrono before the bullet (yes it can happen!). I was getting an average of 1116 FPS at that distance, pretty respectable. Accuracy at 25 yards on paper was excellent and the steel bowling pin cut outs at 50 yards were no problem for this load.

Works well for me!

[Mike Armstrong]

Another way to deal with the oversized Cadet bore is to load hollow-based .32 S&W Long wadcutter bullets in .32-20 cases.

Not sure if anybody sells these any more, but one should be able to buy a mold. The hollow base "skirt" flares out just enough to engage the rifling at reasonable velocities. I used to shoot Fiocchi match bullets intended for Olympic rapid fire pistol matches in my Greener Cadet .32-20 before I had it rebarreled to .25-35.

BUT (the big BUTT), DON'T push these too hard or you may blow the nose out of the bullet, leaving the rest in the bore. This is harder to notice in a Martini action than any other single shot, and if you shoot another round with that lead "sleeve" in the bore, you will permanently ring the bore. A mess that can only be fixed by relining--IF you can find somebody to do that work--NOT easy these days. (But you could at least get it relined to the RIGHT bore size!).

[smle-man]

Sounds interesting but what I tried today seems to be working for me with minimal effort on my part. Either the bore is very tight on my Cadet or the swaged bullets are very, very soft but either way I'm getting great accuracy with a decent velocity.

[6mmintl]

You should try .321 (32special) or .323 8mm lead bullets they are the correct size for these bores, you have to shorten 32 20 cases, expand with ..323 expander ball and seat bullets long till you can chamber.

You will get excellent accurracy.

[6mmintl]

Forgot to mention I also have a cadet with a marlin 32-20 barrel in std chamber bore .311 I'll be selling